TriMet responds to reports of ICE impersonators on MAX trains

PORTLAND, Ore. – TriMet responded to claims that people are impersonating Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers on Portland’s MAX line by saying they have no evidence that it happened.

The reports initially surfaced Wednesday. A viewer contacted KATU News about “men dressed in black riding the MAX line and asking people of color to show their documents.”

Some voiced concerns that it could be related to a national trend of regular citizens impersonating ICE agents in an attempt to intimidate members of the immigrant community.

ICE officials responded to similar reports across the country on Wednesday by saying claims that their agents were conducting “checkpoints and sweeps or ‘roundups’ are false” and intended to “create mass panic.”

TriMet officials said Thursday their operations and security staff members haven’t seen any instances of people impersonating ICE agents on transportation services.

They urge anyone who sees people posing as ICE agents to report it immediately.

In an email to KATU News, an ICE official denied any expanded immigration enforcement action in Portland on Wednesday.